Tripod attachment for binoculars

Abstract

The tripod attachment for attaching a pair of binoculars to a tripod has a friction force producing member providing friction force to hold the pair of binoculars at any desired position with respect to an attachment body when fastening a screw member to the pivot of the pair of binoculars and at the same time to allow the entire pair of binoculars to rotate around the screw member only when certain external force is applied to the pair of binoculars. Therefore, the horizontal correction of the pair of binoculars can be performed only by rotating the pair of binoculars; thus, the tripod attachment can be easily handled. When performing the horizontal correction of the pair of binoculars with the tripod attachment, external rotating force is applied to the pair of binoculars so that the entire pair of binoculars rotates around the screw member against the friction force. Then, application of rotating force to the pair of binoculars is stopped at the position where the telescopes constituting the pair of binoculars are horizontally arranged, and the pair of binoculars is held at the position by the friction force.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. In combination, a pair of binoculars having a pivot and a tripod attachment for attaching to the pivot of the pair of binoculars, the tripod attachment comprising: 
       an attachment body which is attached to the tripod, the attachment body having a hole;  
       a shaft member which is rotatably inserted through the hole of the attachment body;  
       an end of the shaft member being fastened to the pivot of the pair of binoculars; and  
       a friction force producing member which is adjacent to the attachment body, the friction force producing member producing a friction force when fastening the shaft member to the pivot, the friction force holding the pair of binoculars at any desired position with respect to the attachment body, the friction force allowing the pair of binoculars to rotate around the shaft member only when certain external force is applied to the pair of binoculars, wherein the friction force producing member further includes  
       a sleeve which is inserted in the hole of the attachment body, the shaft member being inserted through the sleeve, the sleeve further including  
       an extending part which is extended when the shaft member is inserted in the sleeve; and  
       an engaging part engaging the pivot of the pair of binoculars so that the sleeve is rotated when the pivot rotates, wherein the friction force is produced between the extending part being extended and the hole of the attachment body.  
     
     
       2. The tripod attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the pivot of the pair of binoculars has a threaded hole;  
       the shaft member has a threaded portion on the end thereof; and  
       the shaft member is fastened to the pivot by screwing the threaded portion in the threaded hole.  
     
     
       3. In combination, a pair of binoculars having a pivot and a tripod attachment for attaching to the pivot of the pair of binoculars, the tripod attachment comprising: 
       an attachment body which is attached to the tripod, the attachment body having a hole;  
       a shaft member which is rotatably inserted through the hole of the attachment body;  
       an end of the shaft member being fastened to the pivot of the pair of binoculars;  
       a friction force producing member adjacent to the attachment body, the friction force producing member producing a friction force when fastening the shaft member to the pivot, the friction force holding the pair of binoculars at any desired position with respect to the attachment body, the friction force allowing the pair of binoculars to rotate around the shaft member only when certain external force is applied to the pair of binoculars;  
       an annular body through which the shaft member is inserted, the annular body having an engaging part which engages with the pivot of the pair of binoculars so that the annular body is rotated when the pivot rotates; and  
       a pressing member arranged between the annular body and the attachment body, the pressing member pressing the annular body toward the pivot, wherein the friction force is produced between the annular body and the pressing member.  
     
     
       4. The tripod attachment according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
       the pivot of the pair of binoculars has a threaded hole;  
       the shaft member has a threaded portion on the end thereof; and  
       the shaft member is fastened to the pivot by screwing the threaded portion in the threaded hole.  
     
     
       5. A tripod attachment comprising: 
       an attachment body capable of being attached to a tripod, the attachment body having a hole;  
       a shaft member rotatably inserted through the hole of the attachment body;  
       an end of the shaft member being capable of being fastened to a pivot of a pair of binoculars; and  
       a friction force producing member adjacent to the attachment body, the friction force producing member capable of producing a friction force when fastening the shaft member to the pivot, the friction force allowing the pair of binoculars to rotate around the shaft member only when an external rotational force is applied to the pair of binoculars, wherein the friction force producing member includes  
       a sleeve being inserted in the hole of the attachment body, the shaft member being inserted through the sleeve, the sleeve further including  
       an extending part which is extended when the shaft member is inserted in the sleeve; and  
       an engaging part capable of engaging the pivot of the pair of binoculars so that the sleeve is rotated if the pivot rotates, wherein the friction force is produced between the extending part being extended and the hole of the attachment body.  
     
     
       6. A tripod attachment comprising: 
       an attachment body capable of being attached to a tripod, the attachment body having a hole;  
       a shaft member which is rotatably inserted through the hole of the attachment body;  
       an end of the shaft member being capable of being fastened to a pivot of a pair of binoculars;  
       a friction force producing member adjacent to the attachment body, the friction force producing member capable of producing a friction force when fastening the shaft member to the pivot, the friction force allowing the pair of binoculars to rotate around the shaft member only when a rotational external force is applied to the pair of binoculars;  
       an annular body, said shaft member being inserted through the annular body;  
       an engaging part on the annular body capable of engaging the pivot of the pair of binoculars so that the annular body is rotated if the pivot rotates; and  
       a pressing member arranged between the annular body and the attachment body, the pressing member pressing the annular body toward the pivot, wherein the friction force is produced between the annular body and the pressing member.